Signs written in Spanish are becoming less common along North Philadelphia’s Golden Block, or El Bloque de Oro – which runs along North Fifth Street from Lehigh Avenue to Allegheny Avenue and…
Tag: Quick reads
Gen Zers and millennials are still big fans of books – even if they don’t call themselves ‘readers’
CC BY-ND. Identifying with an activity is different from actually doing it. For example, 49% of Americans play video games, but only 10% identify as gamers. According to a recent survey we…
‘The former guy’ versus ‘Sleepy Joe’ – why Biden and Trump are loath to utter each other’s name
During his 2024 State of the Union Address, President Joe Biden mentioned his presumptive challenger, Donald Trump, 15 times – but never once by name. Instead, Biden referred to him as “my…
‘The former guy’ versus ‘Sleepy Joe’ – why Biden and Trump are loathe to utter each other’s name
During his 2024 State of the Union Address, President Joe Biden mentioned his presumptive challenger, Donald Trump, 15 times – but never once by name. Instead, Biden referred to him as “my…
What’s behind the astonishing rise in LGBTQ+ romance literature?
CC BY-SA A major transformation is underway in Romancelandia. Once upon a time, romance novels from major U.S. publishers featured only heterosexual couples. Today, the five biggest publishers regularly release same-sex love…
The Super Bowl gets the Vegas treatment, with 1 in 4 American adults expected to gamble on the big game
CC BY-ND A record 67.8 million American adults are expected to bet US$23.1 billion on Super Bowl LVIII, according to a new American Gaming Association survey. The estimated number of bettors has…
Transgender regret? Research challenges narratives about gender-affirming surgeries
CC BY-SA You’ll often hear lawmakers, activists and pundits argue that many transgender people regret their decision to have gender-affirming surgeries – a belief that’s been fueling a wave of legislation that…
Gen Z and millennials have an unlikely love affair with their local libraries
CC BY-ND A phone fixation may seem at odds with an attraction to books. But the latter may offer a much-needed reprieve from the former. In our recent study of American Gen…
Norman Lear’s ’70s TV comedies brought people together to confront issues in a way Gen Z would appreciate
Even Americans who strongly disagree with each other may find common ground when they watch the same TV shows and movies, especially those that make us laugh or cry. Norman Lear, who…
New research identifies why people prefer spontaneity in entertainment
The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work. The big idea Audiences love to see athletes and entertainers behaving spontaneously, according to our recent research, because ad-libbed lines, spectacular…